Automatic weft-replenishing loom



Dec. 10, 1929. A. A. GORDON 1,739,224

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed June 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 10, 1929. A. A. GORDON 1,739,224

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed June 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 10, 1929 TATES PATENT GFFICE ALBERT A. 303.3611, OF YVORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO 'CBOMPTON (f2; KNOWR LES 100 M WGRKS, F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR'PORA'IION OF IYZASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATIC \VEFT-REPLENISHING LOOM Application filed June 13,

This invention relates to improvements in repeater motions for stationary magazines and it is the general object ofthe invention to simplify the constructions which have heretoore been employed to permit the drawing of bobbins from two or more cells of a stationary magazine for the replenishment of a single shuttle.

Towels and. other similar fabrics having a 10 plain body and a fancy border may be woven on an automatic box loom employing several parallel stacks of reserve bobbins. One style of loom which has gone into extensive use for the weaving of Terry towels employs a four cell magazine at one end of the loom and two drop boxes at t ie other end or" the loom. The rearmost cell'of the magazine is usually fi led with the colored yarn to be incorporated into the lano border, while the three cells in front oi the rear cell carry the white bobbins, for instance, which are to be used in the weaving oithe body of the towel between the fancy cross borders.

Such a loom operates with two shuttles 'one of which carries the border filling and the other of which is active when the body of the towel is being woven. There is considerably more demand for the body filling than for the border filling, and it is'for this reason that three cells are provided for the body filling while only one is provided for the border filling. H

The magazine is usually or the so-called stationary type employing acolor slide movable both angularly and longitudinally and having a pair of lingers which are brought into operation with one of the four vertical slides which operate one at a time to release the lowermost bobbin 'oi' the stack corresponding to the active shuttle. The box motion or a partcontrolled by the pattern mechanism and operating in time with the box motion is effective to move the color slide positively to one position when the border shuttle is active, but relinquishes control of the color slide when the body of the fabric is being woven, at which time the color slide is controlled by a cam surface. The said cam surface is given ;ressive movement at each transfer so that the bobbins are taken from the three forward 1928. Serial No. 285,067.

cells in rotation to onestack. v

In my prior Patent No. 1,030,077 I have shown means for accomplishing the general prevent depletion of any result outlined above. As shown in said patwill appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein one form of my invention is shown,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a multicolor weft replenishing mechanism of the usual type but having my improvements applied thereto, the same being viewed from the interior of the loom,

F ig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of v V F ig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a top plan View taken in the direc tion of arrow, 4, Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line '5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the development of the cam employed in my motion,

Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal section on line 7-7 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the connection between the box motion and my improved color slide.

As previously stated the four cell megazine of the type shown in Fig. 1 is applied to a loom having but two shifting shuttle boxes. These boxes, not shown, may be raised and lowered by any desired mechanism which derives motion itrom a shaft S shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8. Secured to said shaft and moving therewith is a cam plate C having two dwells, namely, a low dwell 10 and a high dwell 11. When the shuttle and shuttle box corresponding to the body of the fabric are in active position the low dwell 10 will co-- operate with a cam lever 12 having a relatively short arm 13 and a longer arm 14 to give said lever a definite angular position as indicated in Fig. 8. When the border is reached and it is desired to insert filling of a different color the cam C will shift to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8 to cause a corresponding movement on the part of lever 12, causing the latter to move to the right or dotted line position. This movement on the part of the lever-12 is accompanied by a shifting of the shuttle boxes so that the boX having the shuttle corresponding to the border filling is brought into active position.

The lever 13 has the upper end thereof connected to a chain 15 operatively connected to I the color slide to be described hereinafter. The motion imparted to the chaln 15 is greater than that which occurs on an ordinary two color magazine operating with two shuttle boxes for reasons which will be apparent hereinafter.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 it will be seen that I have provided a loom frame 20 having secured thereto the foot of a magazine 21 provided with an inner plate 22. Said plate hasguided thereon for vertical reciprocation four upright slides 23,24, 25 and 26, respectively, which extend in the order enumerated from the front to the back of the magazine. Each vertical or upright slide is connected at the lower end thereof to a bobbin releasing mechanism indicated gener- The bobbins of each compartment are free .to descend by gravity when the lowermost bobbin is moved toward transfer position by the corresponding cradle.

Each upright slide is provided with upper and lower lugs 29 and 30, respectively, which cooperate with spaced lifting lingers 31 and 32 formed as part of a casting 33 which is secured in longitudinal and angular position on a sliding rod 34. Said rod reciprocates in spaced aligned bearings 35 formed preferably as part of the plate 22. By means of a rod 36 the fingers 31 and 32 are moved downwardly every alternate beat of the loom when the active shuttle is on the side of the loom opposite the magazine, and said. fingers are moved upwardly on detecting indicating beats of the loom when the weft detector not shown indicates weft exhaustionof the active filling and calls for replenishment.

Located above the rod 34 is a rock shaft 37 oseillatable in bearings 38 which are fixed to the plate 22 of the magazine. Secured to said rock shaft 37 is a casting 39 having a pair of spaced shelves 40 integral therewith. By means of set screws 41 the shelves 40 are held in fixed angular position relatively to the rock shaft 37 and the casting 39 is so proportioned as to substantially fill the space between the bearings 38 so that endwise movement of the rock shaft 37 and parts secured thereto is prevented.

To the left hand end of the rock shaft 37 as viewed in Fig. 1 is secured an arm 42 from which depends a rod 43 having operative connection with the shuttle feeler not shown. Movement of said rod 43 is efiected by dogs 44 pivoted in the upper ends of the upright slides and normally held in retained or idle position but effective upon the raising of a slide to move outwardly and extend over one or the other of the shelves 40. Upon subsequent downward movement of the previously raised vertical slide the dog corresponding thereto will engage the shelf thereunder and cause angular movement of the rock shaft 3'7 to effect downward movement on the part of rod 43 to depress the shuttle feeler not shown into position where it may detect for a misplaced shuttle. 7 I

The right hand end of shaft 37 as viewed in Fig. 1 is connected by mechani m indicated generally at 45 to mechanism for raising the transferrer latch into the path of the hunter on the lay. By mechanism not shown herein but well understood the shelves 40 will be raised to their normal position during the completion of the transferring stroke of the lay. It will be noted that the shelves 40 are spaced and that there is a space between those portions of the casting 39 through which the rock shaft 37 extends. The rock shaft 37 and shelf 40 control the transfer latch not shown and also the shuttle feeler rod 43 and for this reason may be termed a control member.

The matter thus far described is of common construction in multicolor weft replenishing mechanism and forms no part of my present invention, being substantially the same as that set forth and described in patent to Ryon No. 1,030,748 with the exception of the matter diag "amniatically illustrated in Fig. 6. The matter set forth in that figure although not previously illustrated in any patent of which I have knowledge is substantially the same as that which has been used for a number of yearsin connection with the repeater motion shown in my previously 1118I1- tioned Patent No. 1,030,077.

In carrying my invention into effect 1 extend the rod 34 to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 and locate around the same a tension spring 50 one end of which passes through an opening 51 in the left hand end of said rod34 and the other end of which is passed in front of or as viewed in Fig. 1 to the right of rear bearing 35 as at52. The spring exerts yielding force on the red tending at all times to move the rod 34: to the right. The chain 15 has the upper end thereof connected to the rod Ell and by reference to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the spring operates through the chain 15 to hold the lever 12 against the cam C. The simple construction already described in connection with the left hand end of the color slide eliminates the pair of levers which haveheretofore been necessary in that form of my invention which has gone into general use. When the high dwell 11 of the cam C is under the lever 12 the color slide will be moved to the extreme left hand position, the chain 15 under these conditions pulling against the rod 34 and spring 50 to extend the latter. The spring 50 and the extension of the rod 34 are not claimed herein but form the subject matter of my co-pending application Ser. No. 283,97 5.

Another and importantfeature of my invention relates to the method for controlling the position of the color slides when the body of the fabric is being woven and in carrying this feature of my invention into effect I mount on said rod 34 anactuator having a relatively long hub 61 which extends be tween portions of the casting 33. The rod 34 extends loosely through said hub 61 to permitfree angular movement of the red 34. The upper end of the actuator is forked as at 62 to extend on opposite sides of rock shaft 37. .By means of the fork the actuator is held in substantially vertical position and partakes of practically no angular movement as the color slide rocks and moves longitudinally. The forked end of the actuator as set forth in Fig. 1 is so proportioned with respect to the casting 89 that it may move parallel to the rock shaft 37 as much as is required to accommodate the movements of the color slide.

Said actuator is provided with a vertical pin 63 on which is rotatably mounted a roll 64. Said roll moves about an axis which is fixed relatively to the actuator and as said roll moves back and forth in a direction parallel to shaft 37 by mechanism to be described it causes reciprocating movements of the color slide.

Cooperating with the roll 64 is a placer having a cam face 71 to cooperate with the roll 64. Said placer is formed with a ratchet 72 to cooperate with a pull pawl 73. The pawl is pivoted as at 74 in the upper end of an arm 75 which is freely movable about the rock shaft 37. Placer 70 is also formed with a locking disk D which is held yieldingly in any of its angular positions by a flat spring L. This spring L must be strong enough to maintain the locked position against the spring 50. Said placer is also provided with a sleeve 76 through which the rock shaft 37 extends, the left hand end of said sleeve as viewed in Fig. l engaging a portion of the casting 39 to limit movement of said placer to the left.

In order to give motion to the pawl 73 I connect a depending rod 77 to an extension 78 of the arm 75. The lower end of said rod 77 ispivotally connected as at 79 to the trans ferrer arm 80. The latter is of the usual form and of itself forms no part of my present invention. The rod 77 extends downwardly between the two shelves 40 and substantially parallel to the plate 22. The hub 81 of the arm 75 lies between the ratchet 72 and the adjacent portion of the casting 39 through which the shaft 37 passes and as shown in Fig. l all of the parts mounted on the shaft 37 between the bearings 38 substantially fill the space between said bearings so that no appreciable longitudinal movement of said parts along the control member or shaft 37 is possible.

The cam face 71 of the placer is formed substantially as shown diagrammat' ally in F 6, and has a low dwell 82 and a relatively high dwell 83. Each of these dwells is of sufficient length to engage the roll 6d for two successive angular movements of the placer. Between the dwells 82 and 88 are connecting faces 8a which operate to hold the roll 6st in intermediate position between the extreme right and left hand positions which it may assume. It is to be understood that the ratchet and pawl are operated by the transferrer arm so as to effect a complete revolu tion of the placer while the transferrer arm efi'ects six successive transfers, but I do not wish to be limited to this particular number of movements on the part of the transferrer arm necessary to complete a revolution of the placer.

In operation, when the body of the fabric is being woven the cam C will be in the position shown in Fig. 8 so that spring 50 to gether with the cam face 71 controls the position of the color slide independently of cam C, Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the transferrer will move downwardly to effect transfer of a bobbin into the shuttle S, and in so doing will depress the rod 77 so that the pawl 78 will have a feeding motion to move the ratchet and cam through one-sixth of a revolution, this motion on the part of the ratchet bringing a new portion of the face 71 in contact with the roll 64 to cause the latter to move from position A in Fig. 6 to position 13. On the nexttransfer the roll 64 will be given another movement to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 until the same assumes the position shown at C in Fig. 6. It is to be understood that the parts are so proportioned that when roll 64 is in the posi ion corresponding to A in Fig. 6 the finger 31 will be operatively disposed with respect to the lugs on the front uprightslide 23, and that when said roll 64 is in the position corresponding to B in Fig. 6 said finger 31 will be operatively positioned With respect to the lugs on the second slide 24. It will further be understood that when the roll 64L assumes the position corresponding to C in Fig. 6 the finger 32 will be operatively disposed with respect to the lugs of the third vertical slide 25. Subsequent transfers will return the roll 64L to the right so that the same will assume positions the reverse of those just described.

The placer and actuator will continue to have the changing movements described so long as the body of the fabric is being woven, but when the border is reached there will be a shifting of the boxes with a corresponding alteration in the posit-ion of cam C so that the high dwell 11 of the latter will position the lever 12 in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8. This, as previously described, corresponds to the extreme left position of the color slide so that the finger 32 will be operatively related with respect to the rearmost vertical slide 26. In this way the bobbins in the left stack or compartment of the magazine which are controlled by the vertical slide 26 can be called into action by the cam at any time irrespective of the position of the placer and actuator. As soon as the weaving of the border is completed the cam will return to the full line position shown in Fig. 8 and control of the color slide will be returned to the spring 50 and placer 70.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the roll 64 and color slide must be free to move to the extreme right hand position as viewed in Fig. 1 whenever the boXes shift to bring the shuttle carrying the body filling into active position and that said roll and color slide must be free to assume any one of three positions upon a shifting of the boxes. It is for this reason that the lever 12 and cam C are constructed as set forthin Fig. 8 so that the shifting of the lever is of an extentto correspond to the distance between vertical slides 23 and 26, whereas in the ordinary 2 X 1 automatic loom the lever would shift an amount proportional simply to the distance between adjacent vertical slides.

ft is apparent that as the color slide moves back and forth the forked upper end of the actuator engages the sleeve 76 and is by the latter held in proper position to place the roll G icorrectly with respect to the cam face 71. Furthermore, the sleeve 76 and other parts mounted on the control member or rock shaft 37 aside from the casting 39 occupies space which is ordinarily wasted in the ordinary magazine. It will further be seen that the hub 61 occupies space which ordinarily is unoccupied and that only a very slight alteration in the ordinary casting corresponding to that identified herein by reference character 33 is necessary to accommodate the hub of the actuator. The rock shaft 37 and rod 34 are always parallel and this relation facilitates the arrangement and operation as set forth herein. Also, the shelf mounted on the rock shaft has heretofore had an idle area in the central portion thereof which I remove to make room for the vertical rod 77.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what 1 claim is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, a longitudinally movable color slide, transfer mechanism, a control member for the transfer mechanism extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal movement of the color slide, cooperating means mounted in part on the color slide and in part on the control member to give said color slide'progressive movements to different positions as the transfer mechanism operates, and means to effect relase of a bobbin from any stack, dependent upon the position of the color slide.

2. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a pivotally mounted control member for said transfer mechanism, ,a longitudinally movable color slide to have movements in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the control member, and a pair of cooperating members one supported by and movable with the color slide and the other being supported by and rotatable about the axis of the control member, the rotatable member cooperating with the member on the color slide to give the latter a plurality of longitudinal positions relatively to the stacks of bobbins as the transfer mechanism has successive movements.

3. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a pivotally mounted control member for said transfer mechanism, a longitudinally movable color slide to have movements in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the control member, a pair of co operating members one supported by and movable with the color slide and the other being supported by and rotatable about the axis of the control member, the rotatable member cooperating with the member on the color slide to give the latter a plurality of longitudinal positions relatively to the stacks of bobbins as the transfer mechanism has successive movements, and guide means to hold said members in operative relation with respect to each other for all angular positions for the rotatable member on the controlt device.

4. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a pivotally mounted control member for said transfer mechanism, a longitudinally movable color slide to have movements in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the control member, said color slide having a pivotal motion, an element supported by and movable longitudinally with the color slide, a second element supported by the control member and rotatable about the axis of the latter to give the first named element and consequently the color slide a plurality of longitudinal positions as the transfer mechanism operates, and means to prevent substantial angular move ment of the first named element relatively to the axis of the control member.

ing cooperative relationship between said elements to give the first named element and consequently the color slide a plurality of longitudinal positions as the transfer mechanism operates, and means to prevent angular movement of the first named element relativelv to the axis of the control member.

6. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a pivotally mounted control member for said transfer mechanism, a longitudinally movable color slide to have move- 4 ments in a direction substantially parallel to the axis ofthe control member, said color slide being movableangularly, a pair of elements one movable longitudinally with the color slide and the other rotatable by the transfer mechanism about the axis of thecontrol member, means to prevent angular movement of the element supported by the color slide, and means to establish cooperative relation between the elements, whereby angular movement of said other element causes longitudinal movement of the first named element and the color slide to give the latter. a' plurality of longitudinal positions relatively to the stacksof the'bobbins. I v p r 7. In a weft replemshing mechanlsm with a plurality of stacks of bobbins transfer mechanism, a control member for the trans fer mechanisma color slide member movable 7 q I n 0 angularly and long1tnd1nally,.and a pair-of cooperating elements, one element being mounted on one of the members for angular movement about the axis thereof by the transfer mechanism, the other element being mounted on the other member, means to car longitudinal movement the color slide member as the first named element rotates, whereby the color slide member is movable to a plurality of longitudinal positions.

8. In a weft replenishing mechanism with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a control member for the transfer mechanism, a color slide member movable angularly and longitudinally, and a pair of co operating elements, one element being mounted on one of the members for angular movement about the thereof by the transfer mechanism, the other element being mounted on the other member, means to cause longitndinal movement of the colorslide member as the first named element rotates, whereby the color slide member is movable to a plurality of longitudinal positions, and means to preserve the operative relation of the elements for all angular positions of the control and color slide members.

9. In a weft replenishing mechanism operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a control member for the transfer mechanism mounted for pivotal movement, a color slide member mounted for pivotal and longitudinal movement to determine from which stack transfer shall take place, a pair of cooperating elements one of whichis supported by and movable by the transfer mechanism about the axis of one of the members and the other of which is supported by and fixed with respect to the other member relatively to the longitudinal position of said other member, said elements cooperating. to efiect longitudinal movement of'the'color slide member as the first named element is moved by the transfer mechanism.

10. In a weft replenishing'mechanism operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a rock shaft movable about a fixed axis, a shelf member, a pair of hubs formed as part of the shelf member and secured to the rock shaft, a rotary cam member-located between the hubs and operatively related to the transfer mechanism to be moved angularly about the axis of the rock shaft by the transfer mechanism, a longitudinally movable color slide to determine from which stack of bobbins transfer shall take place, and means to move the color slide longitudinal-ly as the cam member is rotated by the transfer mechanism.-

111. In. aweft replenishing mechanism operating with a plurality of'stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a control member for the transfer mechanism mounted for pivotal movement, a'- color slide member mounted for pivotal and-longitudinal movenent to determine from'which stack transfer shall take place, a pair of elements one of which is mounted on one member and movable along the axis thereof and the other element of whichis movable angularly about the axis of the, other member upon actuation of the transfer mechanism,: means to cause the color slide member to have a longitudinal movement upon an operation of the transfer mechanism, and means establishmg an operating connection between the elements.

"for pivotal and longitudinal movement to determine from which stack transfer shall take place, a pair of elements one of which is mounted on one member and movable along the axis thereof and the other element of which is movable angularly about the axis of the other member upon actuation of the transfer mechanism, means to cause the color slide member to have a longitudinal movement upon an operation of the transfer mechanism, and means establishing an operating connection between the elements, one of said elements being formed with a yoke to have parts to lie on opposite sides of the other member to prevent angular movement of said element.

13. In a weft replenishing mechanism operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a rock shaft movable about a fixed axis, a rotary cam member having a cam face and a sleeve freely rotatable about the rock shaft, a longitudinally movable color slide to determine from which stack of bobbins transfer shall take place, an actuator movable longitudinally with the color slide, a yoke formed as part of the actuator to engage the sleeve to prevent angular movement of the actuator relatively to the axis of the color slide, and a roll supported by the actuator'for engagement with the cam member, and means to cause angular movement of the rotary cam member by the transfer mechanism, said yoke holding the roll in position to cause the latter to be engaged by the cam member to cause longitudinal movement of the color slide as the cam member is rotated.

14. In a weft replenishing mechanism operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a control member for the transfer mechanism mounted for pivotal movement, a color slide member mounted for pivotal and longitudinal movement to determine from which stack transfer shall take place, a placer cam member rotatably mounted about the axis of and supported by the control member, means to give said placer cam member an angular movement upon each operating of the transfer mechanism, an actuator movablelongitudinally with the color slide member, and means to cause movement of the actuator and consequently the color slide member when the placer cam member is given an angular movement.

15. In a weft replenishing mechanism operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a control member for the transfer mechanism mounted for pivotal movement, a color slide member mounted for pivotal and longitudinal movement to determine from which stack transfer shall take place, a cam actuator member supported by and movable about the axis of the control member, a ratchet fixed relatively to the cam member, a pawl to cooperate with the ratchet, means to give the pawl an operative movement to effect angular movement of the ratchet and cam member upon each operation of the transfer mechanism, and an actuator movable longitudinally with the color slide member and having a portion to cooperate with the cam member to give the color slide a longitudinal movement when the cam member is given an angular movement by the pawl and ratchet.

16. In a weft replenishing mechanism having a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism including a transferrer, a pair of angularly movable members having parallel axes, one of the members to cooperate with the transfer mechanism to control the same, and a cooperating mechanism mounted in part on each member to derive movement from the transferrer and effect longitudinal movement of one of said members upon an operation of the transfer mechanism.

17. In a weft replenishing mechanism operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a plurality of vertically movable spaced slides one for each stack of bobbins, a control member movable about a fixed axis and having portions placed for cooperation with the vertical slides,that portion of the control member between certain of the vertical slides being recessed, a longitudinally movable color slide, actuating mechanism for the latter including a rotary element movable about the axis of the control member, and means interposed between the transfer mechanism and the rotary element to cause angular movement of the latter, said means including a partto extend through the recessed part of the control member.

' 18. In a weft replenishing mechanism operating with a plurality of stacks of bobbins, transfer mechanism, a color slide to determine from which stack of bobbins transfer shall take place, a slidably mounted rod forming part of the color slide, a finger element forming another part of the color slide and having spaced hubs to be secured to the rod, an actuator mounted on the rod between the hubs for relative angular movement with respect to the rod and held against longitudinal movement relatively to the rod by the hubs, and means under control of the transfer mechanism to move the actuator to cause the color slide to assume a plurality of longitudinal positions.

19. In a weft replenishing mechanism operating with a plurality of vertical stacks of bobbins, a longitudinally movable member ALBERT A. GORDON. 

